Current interrupter



June 10, 1941. HANLEY CURRENT mmnaurwsn Filed Dec. 27. 1940 QM RN M Q INVENTOR. Q

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Pivotally mounted upon the opposite side of the frame I! from the operating arm i5 is a rocker ll, herein shown as an arm arranged to oscillate about the axis of a pin 20. The rocker is slotted to receive an eccentric. on the end of the armature shaft and is guided in its oscillations by an outer transverse guide piece 22 and inner guide piece 28 both of which are bolted to the {ace of the frame with sufficient space between them to permit the free oscillation of the rocker ll. At the opposite end from the eccentric ii the armature shaft carries a corrugated starting wheel 24.

At the lower end of the rocker I" is provided metal clamping member I! in which is retained an elongated enclosure herein shown as a metal tube 26 mounted for endwise oscillation. The

tube has an insulated seal 30 at each end in which is flxed a contact or electrode II. Freely movable in the tube 26 is a metal conductor herein shown as a ball 21 of such diameter as to make contact at either extremity of its path with one or the other of the electrodes 20. The tube 20 is herein shown as straight sided but may bulge somewhat at the center, so that the ball 21 will tend naturally to roll downwardly and away from the electrodes when permitted to do so. The electrodes are provided with flexible connections extending to the fixed parts of the motor, that is to say to a condenser Ii mounted above the coil H and to the windings of the coil, and an intermediate flexible connection extends between the condenser and the clamp 26 which, as will be under stood is in electrical contact with the body of the tube 2.

A desirable shape for the electrodes is that shown in Fig. 3, that is to say, generally conical or at least having inclined.contact surfaces which are so disposedwith respect to walls of the tube It that the ball 11 will make wedging engagement with the-contact surfaces thereby improving the electrical connection established between the inside of the metal tube-2t and the electrode.

The specific arrangement of the circuit is of secondary importance only, so long as current delivered to the tube I. through the clamp 25 is taken out through the end electrodes as they are terminal. Service connections are made to the proper terminals of the respective coils. When the armature shaft is spun by the starting wheel one electrode is brought into contact with the'ball and current flows through the field magnets until the armature l-as rotated nearly to its straightacross position. Thereupon the cam .2! throws the rocker in the other directionand the current is interrupted until the ball is engaged by the electrode at the opposite end of the tube 26..

When this occurs connections are established with the current flowing in the coils in the same directiod'as before its interruption.

Without in any way implying a limitation in range of use, it may be noted that the illustrated device operates with good efficiency at from 4000 to 5000 R. P. M. of the motor shaft.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described an illustrative embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a motor of the magnetic type having fleld windings and a movable armature; a current interrupter characterized by a rocker oscillated in timed relation to the movement of the armature, a metal cylinder carried by the rocker and having -spaced contacts therein wired in circuit with the fleld windings of the motor, and a metal ball located between said contacts and arranged to engage them alternately as the cylinder is oscillated with the rocker.

2. In a motor of the magnetic type having field windings and a rotary armature shaft carrying an armature; means for interrupting current flowing in the fleld windings characterized by a rocker oscillated in timed relation to the armature shaft, a conductive enclosure carried by the rocker and having an insulated contact at each end in circuit with the field windings, and a metal body freely movable within the enclosure to establish circuit between the enclosure and one or the other of its insulated contacts.

- 3. In a motor of the magnetic type having fleld windings and a rotary armature: a current interrupter characterized by a rocker oscillated in fixed relation to the rotation of the armature and carrying a hollow metal cylinder, an insulated contact at each end of the cylinder having flexible connections with the field windings of the motor, and a metal ball within the cylinder tending to remain at rest by reason of its inertia while the cylinder is oscillated to bring flrst one contact and then the other in engagement therewith.

4. In a motor of the magnetic type having fleld windings and an armature; a current interrupter characterized by a rocker oscillated in timed relation to the armature movement and carrying an enclosure: having a conductive bottom, a rounded body resting freely on said bottom, insulated contacts located in spaced relation on opposite sides of the metal body and having flexible connections with the windings, a condenser also in circuit with said windings, and an intermediate connection to said enclosure.

5. In a motor having fleld windings and a movable armature; a current interrupter characterized by a rocker mounted for oscillation in timed relation to the movement of "the armature, an elongated metal tube with closed ends carried by the rocker, movable in an-endwise manner and having an insulated electrode in each end, both of whichare included in an electric circuit with said tube, a'rolling metal connector located within the tube and arranged to roll toward one of the electrodes when the tube is moved with respect to said connector, and flexible connections between the electrodes and the-field windings.

6. A current interrupter comprising an oscillatory rocker carrying an elongated metal enclosure having within each end an electrode presenting an inclined contact surface, and a freely .movable metallic body located within the encltnsure and shaped to make wedging engagement alternately with the inclined contact surfaces of the respective electrodes as the enclosure is oscillated with the rocker.

JOHN A. HANLEY. 

